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Topic Review (Newest First)

10-04-2014 09:46 PM

parrottbay

Quote:

Originally Posted by styxx

Why yes, I'm starting up this aquarium again!!!

Cant wait!

08-25-2014 01:08 PM

styxx

Quote:

Originally Posted by parrottbay

ITS 2014~~!!!!!! any update?

Why yes, I'm starting up this aquarium again!!!

01-11-2014 09:33 PM

parrottbay

ITS 2014~~!!!!!! any update?

10-15-2013 05:06 AM

parrottbay

Shame I have to wait so long to see this tank again lol

10-04-2013 02:25 AM

fplata

go big or go home

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10-04-2013 02:21 AM

styxx

Quick update 10/20/2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by fplata

Hey man, how are things

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Completely empty! I've broken the tank down and stored all the equipment until I can restock it properly with all Aquasoil and the plants that I want to use in my next set up. And of course, I still have to buy that stand from you, so I've saving my $$ for that as well. But never fear, come 2014 I plan on doing it BIG.

10-04-2013 12:48 AM

fplata

Hey man, how are things

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05-22-2013 01:18 AM

styxx

28,000 + Views...really?!? OMG.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green_Flash

That will look great!

Well I hope so, but removing this substrate is a SLOW process while keeping the fish, shrimp and plants alive. But I'm doing it bucket by bucket, once a week until all but the back of the tank has been cleaned up...

05-20-2013 09:05 AM

Green_Flash

That will look great!

05-20-2013 08:50 AM

styxx

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allentan97

What happened to all the lilaeopsis!?!?!

I tore it all out and I'm replacing my substrate with Aquasoil for some glosso!

05-17-2013 02:47 AM

Allentan97

What happened to all the lilaeopsis!?!?!

05-17-2013 01:51 AM

styxx

Here we go again...SMH

This is going to be a real PITA. The substrate is full of mulm and every time I disturb it, a cloud ensues. Anyway, I'm slowly going to remove most of the foreground substrate and leave a vary narrow strip in the back because that would really make things intolerable. Not to mention I have all kinds of amanos and cherry shrimp still hiding back there. Here's a current photo of operations since the removal of my foreground.

05-12-2013 12:50 AM

fplata

ADA 90P Iwugami (56K Warning) Updated 3/30/2013

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05-11-2013 09:32 PM

styxx

5/11/2013 Update

Just a quick note to say that later this summer, I will be tearing down this tank and replacing the microsword with glosso and replacing the Fluorite with ADA Aquasoil (there really isn't any replacement for it).

04-17-2013 11:59 AM

styxx

Whoa!! I Need To Get On Here More Often!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by iter

Straighten up that substrate line !!!

IME otos can survive a nuclear strike

Well I definitely don't give a damn about that substrate line, lol. It's almost been a year come this Fall, so the fact that there is a line at all is a sign of impressive diligence on my part, lol. I do agree however that otos can pretty much survive almost anything and when I give them algae wafers, forget about it!!! At night Ive seen them go crazy over those things, lol!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green_Flash

Now all you need is that glass ADA feeder.

Yes, I think you're right, but at the moment, I'm using ELOS vacuum sealed packets and my Rasboras go crazy for it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiftymeatballs

Beautiful tank!! Took me forever to read this whole journal. Lot's of ups and downs for your setup in the past year.

The reason I came across your post was because I searched GroBeam. Last week I purchased a GroBeam Ultima 1500, if you haven't heard of it it's the upgraded version of the 1,000.

I originally purchased one grobeam, problem being my tank being a 20 gallon long, it's 30" long. There is not enough spread with just one tile. Now that I received my second today, it is very bright!! Now keep in mind I purchased the tiles since I require high light to grow a HC carpet but am starting to think I went overboard.

I've been trying to determine the proper height above my tank. I have the same ceiling cable mount as you, and today mounted 12 inches above the water line, so 2 feet from the substrate total. I'm starting to think based on your results that 100% power is overkill especially on such a shallow tank. I think I'll run 50% for 3-4 hours, then 2 hours 100% then 2 hours back to 50%. Curious what you think at this point after experiencing the strength of these lights. Any advice would be great. Thank you

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green_Flash

Did you get the dimmer? Can you add it later?

I'll try to reply to both of your comments at once; Yes, I don't run my 2 tiles at more than 80% ever. I learned very early that I could achieve very high growth (at a high CO2 rate) initially, but that things would wind down precipitously after 6 months at which time I had to dramatically stop all liquid ferts and reduce the light intensity to 75% full time to avoid algae. Part of that rationale was related to the fact that my substrate was not Aqua soil, but also to the fact that the light intensity was driving everything in "overdrive" and to achieve equilibrium necessitated something having to give. In this case it was a dramatic reduction in biomass volume and liquid ferts (I dosed nothing but K for weeks) combined with stability in CO2 concentration. I can't being to imagine what the 1500 tiles must be like, OMG! a 50%-100%-50% ratio would sound good though I'm tempted to recommend less depending on your biomass load. You really have to have a LOT of plants to accommodate that 100% photoperiod (depending on the duration and length of exposure)...It was very much a balancing act, but things have certainly balanced themselves out by now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frrok

There is someone in the UK, George Farmer, who has the same lights. He took PAR readings and got 50 PAR @60 cm(or about 24inch) that's extremely high light. Just for your reference.

That's very true. I don't think I would ever run these at 100% intensity unless I absolutely had Aquasoil (and even then only in short, mid-day bursts, but never 100% of the time). Which is NOT to say that having 2 tiles isn't beneficial. I think that having the spread of light is more important, depending on the relative length of the aquarium (thus my decision to buy a second tile, though I didn't need the additional intensity, but spread of light to the furthest reaches of the aquarium).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiftymeatballs

I did not purchase the controller it's expensive. With two tiles you need two timers if you want 50% to 100% output control. You just swap the connections to the bricks and one timer will control the inner most LED's of both tiles and the other timer can control the outermost LED's of the two tiles.

The only info I was able to find about height was that George Farmer write up where he had two TMC 1,000's at 60cm. Keep in mind the new 1500's are even stronger!

I already have hair algae growth coming from my HC, it hitched a ride from the nursery. Snails too. My setup is a week old fyi.

Yeah, I won't ever try 100% intensity again; the multi-controller is WAY overpriced but I bought it and the initial set up is a REAL PITA but once done, its effortless to maintain. Once you go LEDs like these, you never go back, IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by freph

I swear by that thing and love it.

On topic:
Tank is looking great man. That fern was a monster!

Thanks. Yet that fern was a monster but this CO2 diffusion and circulation + the lighting is already making me look at it and wondering how long it will be before I have to chop it in 1/2 again, lol!! I hope this answers some of your questions and I'm happy to reply to whatever additional queries you might have; these GroBeam tiles have definitely convinced me of the value of LED lighting's ability to replace the wattage heavy CFL and even Halide lighting.

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